Drying apparatus.



Patented Mar. l3, I900. C. MALLINSON. V

DRYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1898,)

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No. 645,366. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

' C.- MALLINSON.

DRYING APPARATUS.

' (Application filed Aug. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WEBEEEEE; 65k]? No. 645,666. Patented Mar. l3, I900.

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DRYING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Aug. 19, 1898.) I

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UNITED STATES An 'r CHARLES MALLINSON, OF LIVER-POOL, ENGLAND.

DRYING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 645,366, dated March 18, 1900. Application filed August 19,1898. Serial No. 689,001. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES MALLInsoN, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing in Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conditioning or Drying Apparatus, (for which I have made application in Great Britain, No. 2,970, dated February 5, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for conditioning and drying grain, berries, sugar,- seeds, crystals, and granular or pulverulent material generally, into which the produce or other material after being washed, drained, or otherwise treated is placed and falls by gravity in contact with steam or hot water or air pipes. l

The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general side elevation of the apparatus, parts being in section; Fig. 2, a detailed sectional view of one of the trunks on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3, a similar View; and Fig. 4-, a general side elevation of the apparatus, showing the elevator in conjunction therewith.

An apparatus having a like object is described in the specification of my Letters Patent No. 451,306, and the present invention is designed to provide certain improvements in the construction of said apparatus. These improvements as applied to grain drying and conditioning consist mainly in reducing the space taken up by the apparatus and reducing the number of parts, and thereby the cost of construction. To this end I arrange the apparatus upright and in a straight line and not zigzag, as heretofore, the apparatus in this case consisting of two vertical casings or trunks about eighteen feet in height and about eighteen inches apart, though I do not confine myself to any particular dimensions, down which the material to be desiccated falls by gravity in thin streams or layers and within each of which a parallel row of centrally-placed steam or hot-water pipes are arranged in such a manner that the descending stream of material is brought into very intimate contact with their heated surfaces. Suitable arrangements are also provided for admitting air to the trunk for drawing off moisture therefrom and for breaking up the stream of material as it descends therein.

Referring to the drawings, A and B are the two vertical casings or trunks, and O a space between these vertical trunks, which is utilized as a hot-air chamber. Through each of the trunks steam or hot-water pipes D pass, as in my former patent; but in the trunk B, I reduce the diameter of the pipes from about half theirlength downward to reducetheheaii or discontinue the pipes at this point, and to further reduce it and dry and cool the grainI allow cold air to enter the trunk 13 in the manner hereinafter described. At the, top of each trunk is arranged a steam-chest E, into which the pipes enter and from which they are fed by means of steam-pipes E. The steam-pipes are connected wit-h and drain into a tank 5, Fig. 4:, such as shown in my United States patent aforesaid.

I dispense with the devices for subdividing the descending stream of grain used in my former apparatus and substitute for them the following: Inside the casings or trunks and opposite the openings F, leading to the vapor or exhaust shafts G,are deflecting-plates H, inclined downward from one side across the casing or trunk to near the other side thereof and filling up the whole space between the pipes, thus leaving only a passage I between the edge of the inclined plates H and the wall of the trunk sufficient for the grain to pass down in a narrow stream. Immediately above these inclined plates H are other plates J, inclined in the opposite directionthat is, downward from the opposite side of the trunk toward the'steam-pipes. The openings K, leading from the hot-air chamber 0 into the trunks, are arranged on the opposite sides of the trunks to the exhaust-openings F and alternating therewith, and these openings K are projected by deflecting-plates L. All the deflecting-plates H, J, and K are designed to. check the wheat in its fall and turn viding or breaking up the stream of material as it descends, so that the air-currents may act upon it with'greater effect and so that it may be brought into intimate contact with the heating-pipes. The air-current, moreover, being upward and in an opposite direcit over at intervals, while thoroughly subdi-' tion to the stream of downward material, acts to hold or buoy up the material as it doscends, and though the weight of the latter overcomes the force of the upward air-current, yet the air prevents a too-rapid descent of the material and has the tendency to turn it over, so that it shall be thoroughly exposed on all sides to the drying action of the air and the steam-pipes. The arrangement of deflectors and openings for exhaust and hot air in the trunks is repeated at intervals alternately along the whole length of the trunk, though in a portion of the trunk B, as befere stated, the steam-pipes are reduced in diameter, and the lower part of trunkB is separated from the hotair chamberby cold-air space M to allow a current of cool air to be passed through the wheat before finally leaving the machine. The exhaust-shafts G are connected with fans G.

N is a steam-chest for supplying heat for the hot-air chamber, and O and O are hoppers at the top of trunks into which the wheat is fed and falls onto the adjustable tray P, which is connected by the cord Q with a lever B at the bottom of the machine. By this arrangement the vertical trunks are always kept charged full of wheat and a continuous stream is kept flowin g through. At intervals of a few inches hot air is exhausted through the wheat, so that every grain of wheat is continuously subjected to the current of hot air. After first passing down the trunk A the grain is elevated up by means of an elevator T, Fig. 4, and delivered into the other hopper O, and so into the trunk B. Thus the wheat is again thoroughly turned over and is finally delivered dried and cooled. The effect of the steam-pipes inside the trunks causes the wheat to perspire-that is to say, it brings the moisture inside the wheat-berry to the surface, while the fan drawing currents of hot air through the inlets and outlets takes away the surplus moisture and delivers it through the exhaust-shafts. Thus the inside of the Wheat is put into splendid condition for grinding, while the bran has j ustsuflicient moisture left in it to make it thoroughly tough, ready and suitable for a good scourmg.

drawing the moisture from the interior of the Wheat-berry is that it brings with it the dirt in the crease and skin, which can then readily be removed by scouring or brushing, and

Another valuable advantage gained by the lower qualities of flour are thus greatly improved. By this invention also the treatment of the material improves its color.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In an apparatus for drying grain or other material, the combination of two upright trunks provided with internal heating-pipes; a hot-air chamber intermediate and common to said trunks; openings'extending from said chamber into the trunks; and exhaust-passages connected to the outer sides of the trunks, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for drying grain and the like, the combination of two upright trunks; a series of heating pipes extending down therethrough; a series of deflecting-plates mounted within said trunks for causing the grain to pass back and forth across the trunks; a hot-air chamber intermediate and common to said trunks and communicating therewith; and exhaust-passages connected to the outer sides of the trunks.

In an apparatus for drying grain and the like, the combination of the trunks A and B; a series of heating-pipes mounted within the trunk A; a series of heating-pipes having re- 'duced lower ends mounted within the trunk B; a hot-air chamber intermediate the trunks and communicating therewith; exhaust-passages connected to the opposite sides of said trunks; and a cold-air space communicating with the lower end of the trunk B, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In an apparatus for drying grain and the like, the combination of the trunks A and B; a series of heating-pipes mounted in trunk A; a series of heating-pipes having reduced ends mounted within trunk B; deflectorplates mounted within said trunks for causing the grain to pass back and forth across the trunks in contact with the pipes; a hotair chamber intermediate the trunks; means for causing the heated air therefrom to pass up and through the trunks; and a cold-air space at the lower end of the trunk B, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 2d day of August, 1898, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES MALLINSON. Witnesses:

G. O. DYMOND, W. H. BEESTON. 

